Columns

When was the last time you listened to a groove that was so funky and remarkably precise that you couldn’t resist being in awe? For Ryan Madora, it was the last time she listened to Rhonda Smith. Rhonda is the focus of this “Bass Players To Know” column.

Travis Huisman is back with another “Recording Bass” column. In this one he shares tips about avoiding that muddy (or non-existent) low end he finds in a lot of his client’s projects.

Ryan is back with a new column that wouldn't have happened without this time of self-isolation. The topic is on live-streaming, which is all the rage now. She had to figure this out for herself, and has a lot to share on the topic.

Recording bass guitar at home is not difficult with the vast amount of quality plugins available to you today. Travis Huisman breaks things down with 5 audio plugins to make your bass recordings instantly better.

Ryan is back with a new entry in her “Bass Players To Know” series. This time, she focuses on the work of Nashville legend and session ace, Dave Roe, the longtime bass player with Johnny Cash and favorite of the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach - and more.

In the crowded world of aftermarket pickup makers, few continue to explore with as much passion and childlike wonder as Curtis Novak. In this new edition of “Custom Shop,” Jake Serek takes a look into Novak’s work.

This is trying time for all of us. And for those who make their living playing music, things are even more challenging. That's the focus of this new column Ryan just wrote: from the perspective of a gigging musician and a fan of bands and artists too.

Great artists are known for trailblazing their own path and Meshell Ndegeocello has done just that. With a continually evolving body of work and a successful career as both artist and side person, Meshell Ndegeocello is a bass player to know.

After attending a recent Wilco performance, Ryan decided it was time to feature John Stirratt in her “Bass Players To Know” series. Check out what Ryan has to say about his playing, along with some notable tracks from Wilco and The Autumn Defense.

Damian Erskine’s popular “Ask” column ran for over 10 years. On December 4th, Damian announced he was taking a break. He still logged nearly a year’s worth of columns in 2019, covering theory, gigging, gear, and more. Here are the top 10 reader favorites.

For over a decade, Damian Erskine has published his “Ask Damian Erskine” column every week. That’s 533 columns. After that impressive run, Damian has decided to take a break. We can’t thank him enough for his contributions over the years.

Many people question the validity of music lessons. Are they worth it? Why do they cost [enter amount]? And what’s the point of having a teacher when you can learn on your own? That’s the topic of Ryan’s latest “Lightbulb Moment” column.